Freedom
After the break... more Freedom
The copy deadlines for the rest of the year have been set, so if you have an article to send in, you know where to check...
6916 - copy deadline 4th September
6917 - 18th September
6918 - 2nd October
6919 - 16th October
6920 - 30th October
6921 - 13th November
6922 - 27th November
6923/24 - 11th December
Freedom
Regular London-based anarchist newspaper, co-founded in 1886 by Peter Kropotkin and published regularly since 1936.
Egypt cracks down post-strike
Rob Ray reports for Freedom Newspaper on continuing crackdowns on civil liberties in Egypt
Following a period of upheavals in Egypt, the state is attempting to reassert control with a series of measures aimed at curbing both the labour movement and the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s largest radical Islamic group.
Who cares for the carers?
Rob Ray investigates how privatisation is costing social care workers, following a damning verdict in a recent report, for Freedom Newspaper
The full impact of two decades of privatisating social care on the working conditions of carers has been revealed in recently published research.
African health worker gap catastrophic
Rob Ray looks at claims that a brain drain to West is crippling healthcare across the African continent, for Freedom Press
It has been revealed that the global shortfall in healthcare professionals has reached four million people – with one million needed in Africa alone. The figures were voiced at the Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which opened in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on March 3rd.
Damaging uranium mines restart
The new nuclear boom will hit Africa as advocacy groups warn poorly regulated mining of radioactive materials risks poisoning land and water, finds Rob Ray.
With 349 new nuclear reactors now either under construction, on order or in the early planning stages around the world, the uranium mining industry has been kicking into high gear with a glut of new extractions underway.
Looking back at 2007
Rob Ray makes his annual roundup of Freedom Newspaper's front pages for 2007
January,
The year got off to an environmentally-minded start when protests over the destruction of Iceland’s pristine wilderness by a major damming project spilled over onto the streets of London, with campaigners blockading company offices, doing banner drops of the Tate Modern and St Paul’s cathedral and leafleting around the city.
Ivory coast workers win cocoa strike
Workers across the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast have gone back to work after winning a strike action which brought shipments to a standstill at the beginning of January.
The strikers wanted to secure better pay and working conditions, and oust senior management in government agencies accused of severe malpractice.
London: Improvements for the homeless
A new campaign to improve the lot of homeless people in London has been gathering steam after it was launched by the London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP), finds Freedom newspaper.
LCAP, which was set up in August as a means of providing support to people who are not getting their legal rights through taking on ‘direct action casework’, identified homelessness as a growing problem in the capitol as resources are stripped away from shelter provision. Mat, a volunteer for LCAP, spoke to Freedom in a personal capacity about the group and campaign.
Examining the 2007 Royal Mail dispute
Rob Ray explains the introduction of competition to the postal service, and why it will be the government, not postal workers, who the public have to thank for the loss of cheap post and the universal service.
The problem, according to headlines in the mainstream press, was a 2.5% pay rise being offered by Royal Mail to its 190,000 workers, along with some vague problems to do with ‘terms and conditions’.
The reality of what is being faced by the postal workers is far more complex and vastly more damaging, not just for them, but for everyone who wants to be sure of getting their mail.
Burma: International power play?
Rob Ray looks at the economics surrounding the ‘Saffron Revolution’ in gas-rich Burma for Freedom newspaper
In the aftermath of the Burmese protests, in which hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets alongside Buddhist monks, there has been mounting international pressure on China and India to pull back their substantial economic support to the country.
All’s fare in train robbery
Rob Ray looks into the strange case of train travel price hikes which have no apparent economic basis for Freedom newspaper
Two major train companies have announced large price rises this month, with Arriva deciding to raise their off-peak fares by over 30% and South West Trains 20%.
It’s war in Royal Mail
As one of the most significant workplace battles of recent years comes to the boil, Freedom talks to a postal worker about how class warfare is in the post.
A battle between postal workers and managers over the future of the Royal Mail looks set to turn nasty following a litany of attacks on working conditions, staffing numbers and now wages.
Pat (the postman) stated:
Nicolas Sarkozy: A mandate for class war
Conservative politician Nicolas Sarkozy has won the French Presidential election ...
He managed to convince 53% of the population that he represents change and this message has dutifully been repeated in the media over here. Yet he is basically the chosen successor to the incumbent party so, surely, it makes far more sense to say the French were looking for “more of the same” rather than the Royal victory would have been the mandate for “change.”
Libcom's Eye-Spy at the Anarchist Bookfair
Libcom's own version of the popular in-car children's game involving regular sights at the annual Anarchist Bookfair in London.
1pt
A hippie
A nutter
A punk, British
A group of punks drinking, British
An SWP member coming to check out genuine socialism
An anarchist who used to be in the SWP
An old man with a beard. Possibly old enough to lead you to ponder whether or not he fought in Spain…
2pts
Asda: part of the Wal-Mart spy ring
Following an admission from US supermarket giant Wal-Mart that the company has employed some of its estimated 400 investigators to spy on groups who stand against them, enquiries by Freedom have uncovered a similar story at UK subsidiary Asda.
During the most recent major conflict between Asda and an outside body, a dispute between the company and the GMB led to bug detectors being deployed by unionists during negotiations to avoid surveillance by managers.
Private Equity: a vicious new breed?
Rob Ray looks at the recent manoeuvrings of Private Equity and asks what relevance its growth may have
In scenes reminiscent of the 80s pre-stock market crisis, a major row has blown up over the attempted Private Equity takeovers of high-street giants Sainsbury’s and Boots.
Organising for resistance - Interview with an AFed activist
Freedom talks to ‘Bob’, a longstanding member of the Anarchist Federation, about UK’s main anarchist-communist group.
The Anarchist Federation is growing in membership and involved in a range of campaigns including Defy ID. Its magazine ‘Organise!’ recently reached its 20th anniversary issue.
Freedom: Why did you join AF?
Mobilising educators
A conference on education could bring together three out of the four major class struggle federations in the UK under one house this June, to discuss plans for organising across the UK.
This June looks likely to see a resurgence in organising for the education sector, with an anarchist networking meeting involving three federations and individuals from around the country.
Projectile: The interview
Freedom newspaper caught up with a member of the collective organising Projectile, the annual anarchist film festival in Newcastle.
...
Freedom: You've done two previous festivals, how do you think this one will compare?
